BRC Global Standard for Consumer Products

The BRC Global Standard for Consumer Products has been developed by the British Retail Consortium, the lead trade association representing retailers. It covers the majority of non-food consumer and household goods including everything from toys to greeting cards, DIY items to white goods, textiles, furniture and non-prescription pharmaceuticals and is applicable to manufacturers supplying into UK retailers, regardless of country of origin.

The BRC Global Standard for Consumer Products has been developed to give added confidence to customers that relevant legislative and/or safety requirements have been met and that the products they buy are safe to use.

All organisations wishing to gain certification against this standard now need to comply with Issue 3 which was published in 2010. The latest version has been produced in partnership with the Retail Industry Leaders Association based in Washington, USA (RILA) and is aimed at the UK and North American markets.

Certification to BRC Global Standard for Consumer Products helps in satisfying the legal requirements to demonstrate 'due diligence' as required by the European General Safety Directive 2001/95/EC. It also supports consistency of production for sector specific product requirements such as the Low Voltage Directive and Toy Safety Directive and helps manufacturers meet Good manufacturing practice requirements.

All products are grouped into three categories depending on the level of risk they pose to the consumer, each with its own defined audit requirements.

Lloyd's Register (LR) is well placed to provide certification to this BRC Global Standard for Consumer Products. We were one of only two certification bodies to be awarded accreditation by UKAS in March 2008. Our assessors have years of experience in the food and manufacturing sectors enabling us to provide a pragmatic and quality service.

British Retail Consortium Website (external link)

• Legal – helps in satisfying the legal requirements to demonstrate 'due diligence' as required by the European General Safety Directive 2001/95/EC

• Best practice – supports consistency of production for sector specific product requirements such at Toy Safety Directive and Low Voltage Directive and helps manufacturers meeting Good Manufacturing Practice requirements.

• Reduced costs – through continual improvement of processes and resulting in operational efficiencies.

Experience 

We are a market leader in the provision of food safety assessment, certification and training services, and some of the world’s best known organisations choose us for their assessment services.

Proven track record 

We have high-profile clients in the finance, telecommunications, software, internet, consultancy, justice and government sectors.

BRC specialists 

Our assessors have years of experience in the food and manufacturing sectors enabling us to provide a pragmatic and quality service.